E26.1
BillableSecondary hyperaldosteronism
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is E26.1 an HCC code?
Yes. E26.1 maps to Other Significant Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders under the V24 model but is not retained in V28.
HCC Category Mapping
RAF weights shown are the community, non-dual, aged base weights from the CMS risk adjustment model file. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member segment, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains in use during the transition and for historical data.
MEAT Criteria for E26.1
For E26.1to count as a valid HCC diagnosis in a given encounter, the provider's documentation must show MEAT: Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat. A diagnosis from a prior year does not carry forward automatically — it has to be re-documented and supported each calendar year.
- MMonitor: signs, symptoms, disease progression, or lab trending documented in the note
- EEvaluate: test results, medication response, or physical findings reviewed by the provider
- AAssess: explicit mention in the assessment or plan with acknowledgment of status
- TTreat: medication, referral, procedure, therapy, or counseling tied to the diagnosis
Only one of M/E/A/T is required to support the code, but the documentation must be specific enough to show that the provider actually addressed E26.1 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
E26.1 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for secondary hyperaldosteronism. Excessive aldosterone production caused by kidney disease, heart failure, liver disease, or other secondary conditions rather than a primary adrenal problem. E26.1 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (e00-e89), within the section covering disorders of other endocrine glands (e20-e35).
Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, E26.1 maps to Other Significant Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (HCC 23) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.194. V28 is the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model that reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition.
Always code the underlying cause (kidney disease, heart failure, etc.) as an additional diagnosis. Because E26.1 maps to a payment HCC, the provider's documentation must satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's Medicare Advantage risk adjustment score. When documentation is ambiguous, coders should issue a provider query rather than assume the highest-specificity variant.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for E26.1 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Always code the underlying cause (kidney disease, heart failure, etc.) as an additional diagnosis
- •Distinguish from primary hyperaldosteronism (E26.0x) which has different treatment approaches
Clinical Significance
Secondary hyperaldosteronism is a compensatory elevation in aldosterone production driven by activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system from conditions causing reduced renal perfusion. Common causes include heart failure, cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, and renal artery stenosis, where the aldosterone elevation is an appropriate physiologic response rather than primary gland pathology.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Document the underlying cause (heart failure, cirrhosis, renal artery stenosis, nephrotic syndrome), renin and aldosterone levels (both elevated in secondary form), potassium levels, and treatment directed at the underlying condition.